The Washington critic., 1887-03-24
WOULD SHE REGRET 1T -?


William Everton held Adele Cray.
toms hand firmly in his, and looked
down at her gravely, almost sternly,
as he asked this question. A flush
stole over Adelle's sallow face, her
head dropped trihe, she dared not
meet his eyes, as she said:
II fear have not acted exactly right
In not telling you before; but then l
was not sure that you cared anything
for me.
"You were not sure, Adclle"-the
words fell reproachfully from his lips
land If you were sure, would you
have acted any differently 2"
She suffered terrible tinge of con
science. She tried to elude his grasp,
his eyes, but she could not.
ANSWER me truthfully, Adele;
would you have acted any differently 2"
he repeated.
mo, no, would nc. . she cried,
desperately. "Forgive me, viii, |
could not help 1t. ] never knew what
love meant until i saw Vernon Has.
brook"
"And this brilliant gathering here
tonight Is for the purpose of making
public your engagement"
Eyes. VIII, can you forgive? ]
shall always think the same of YOU"
A moment longer he held her hand
In his. A violent tremor ran through
his frame.
II forgive you," and her hands fell
from his clasp. 81 shall live this down,
Adele, and l hope you will never re-
gret the step you have taken"
He was about to turn away, but her
hand was upon his arm, clutching him
tiercely. He had said, II hope you
will never regret the step you have
taken" In tone that carried con.
viction 10 her heart for the moment
that she would, and she cried:
why should l ever regret marry
ing the man love best? VIII, do you
know anything against Vernon Has
brooke There are whisperings about,
but no one knows from whence they
have sprung. 1t is always so, isn't 1t,
VIII, when an heiress marries poor
man? You can't make some people
believe anything but that he is after
her money"
Vernon Hasbrook had won from him
the girl he loved, but William Ever.
BILE to him, were 1t In his power to do
so. He loved Adele Crayton. She
knew It; she had encouraged him; but
he would gather all his strength of will
TO forget that now. She had proved
herself unworthy of his love- she had
fallen from his esteem; consequently,
he could love her no longer.
Vernon Hasbrook may be as honor.
able man as the sun ever shone upon,
for aught know. Your engagement
has come about so hastily; he Is a
stranger to everybody here, being
among us scarce three months-that, |
suppose, is what has given rise to the
whisperings you speak Of.
"Oh, ] am so glad to hear you say
so p and Adelle's face lighted this
tine with joy. ""Will, | hope it does
not pain you to hear me say 1t, but
should die If anything happened to
separate me from Vernon"
'1t is not likely that anything shall
happen; the time Is so short-a month,
believe, to your wedding day ?"
"Only month, but 1t seems years
away. Are you angry with me, WHIP"
She raised her dark gray eyes sup.
plicatingly to him as she spoke, but
there was no emotion In his face as he
answered:
II am not angry with you, Adele.
! have only to repeat what have said.
hope you will never have cause to re.
gret the step you have taken. Good
evening % and William Everton left
the conservatory.
A little shiver ran through Alelc's
form as she looked after him. She
hoped William Everton cared nothing
for her; It would indeed make her un.
happy to know that he suffered. Would
she ever regret the step she had taken ?
No, no; she loved Vernon Hasbrook,
and rather than give him up she would
give up life itself, she thought; but still
the perfume Of the flowers created a
sickening sensation, the statuary struck
chill to her heart, and she stood
shivering where William Everton left
her until a voice sounded In her ear
that sent the blood leaping joyously
through her veins.
My darling, have been looking for
you for the past half hour" and Yer.
non Hasbrook's handsome face bent
over her, his arm encircled her, and
William Ever,on and all the world but
Vernon Ilasbrook was forgotten by
Adele Crayton.
Adele Crayton's engagement to the
handsome stranger, Vernon llasbrook
surprised everybody, for everybody
had made up their mind that it woult!
some day he match between her and
William Everton; but then, why should
everybody be surprisedr Adele was
known to he a creature of impulse,
and If wealthy heiress with neither
parent nor guardian to dictate, caunot
marry handsome poor man, If she
takes the notion, who can?
The month had nearly passed away
at last 1t was Adele Crayton's wed.
ding eve. The month had seemed an
age, and now Adelle's sole thought,
as she paced up and down her room
in feverish excitement, was, would 10.
morrow ever come? A strange feel
ing Of unquiet had taken possession OF
her, q dread of something turning up
TO prevent her marriage. She wa.
just thinking If everybody had such
thoughts on their wedding eve, when a
knock sounded on the door. 1t was a
servant to say that there was young
girl down stairs. who insisted on see.
ing Miss Crayton.
"Did you tell her could see no one
this evening ?" asked Adele. her heart,
she knew not why, rising to her throat
"Yes, miss; but she says she caunO,
go away without seeing you-her bust.
ness Is of the utmost Importance